I’ve known Ricky for a few years now, he’s a few years older then me, and was always one of the better riders in Leeds that had the time of day for little grommet riders like me when I was 15. He recently upped sticks and moved in with girlfriend Kayti in York and quit his job and opening his own bike workshop in York. Feather cycles was born! I caught up with Ricky this weekend to find out more about the company, his reasons and what’s next!
Photos by Liam & Kayti
1. So Ricky, how are you doing?
Not too bad mate, its sunday morning, just chillin’, having a nice cuppa and replying to a few emails.
2. What made you decide to leave your job, and set up your own fixie shop?
Hahaha. thats the first time its been called a fixie shop, I prefer to call it a frame building workshop. I wouldn’t want to limit myself to just fixed gear bikes! I want to become a respected frame builder and get into building road bikes too, generally I want to build nice strong bikes that are pleasing to the eye and fun to ride and learn more about building fully custom bikes too, hopefully coming up with some elegant but original touches along the way!
The actual reason I quit my job was because me and Kayti, out of the blue booked flights to new york, we were there for a month and in that time I thought it would be a good chance to start building bikes as it was an idea i had been toying with for a while. Basically do something creative and fun for a living using the skills I already had.
3. Why fixies and not BMXs, because you’re a BMXer through and through right?
As I said before, I don’t just want to limit my skills to building track bikes, although they will probably be my favourite to build as I think they are the best looking bikes there is. I am a BMXer, have been for years and always will be, but when it comes to business, theres no money in building a BMX frame over here, it would cost me as much if not more in materials to build one as it would to just buy a Taiwanese frame. I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t want to spend more than 250 quid on a frame that I’m gonna throw myself down stairs on or down rails or whatever.
4. How much are the bikes going to be priced?
The price can vary depending on the type of tubing used, for a frame and forks built of Reynolds 631 with Reynolds 725 stays it would cost £650. you could use a cheaper cromoly or a more expensive all Reynolds 725 or 853 frame. i think the 631 x 725 combo is the best price/ strength/ weight medium!
5. What sets Feather Cycles apart from the other bike companies out there?
I work on my own, from my girlfriend’s dads garage. I go for a minimal approach and make, in my opinion, nice looking bikes and I’m always looking and thinking to try different stuff, there is lots of companies that make the mass produced taiwan bikes that are real ugly bikes, i think its a shame that companies can make the bike with the most potential to be beautiful look ugly. being new to the game is good too because there is so much influence out there and its so much fun just looking at other peoples ideas and putting your twist on it. i also really like to work with different colour schemes, thinking what colour decals to put on what colour frame and what colours compliment a bike or not. I would like it if i never got 2 frames the exact same colour scheme!
6. What else can we expect from feather cycles apart from forks and frames?
I am working on getting some handmade cycling caps with the logo embroidered, they also will have a nice original touch to them! also maybe a collab t-shirt with fixed gear Leeds in the near future.
7. Why did you up sticks and move to York? That’s where I grew up riding and there’s not a lot of street!
My girlfriend owns her house in york, I was paying a ton on rent every month in the city in Leeds and wouldn’t want to move back to Hyde Park. its just a 25 minute drive to the workshop and 30 minutes to Leeds, if i lived in Leeds it would take me a hour to get to the workshop. also york is a sweet city, I have the beautiful city to my left and miles of countryside to my right! theres good car boot sales too! I love it here.
8. What’s next for Ricky Feather?
Get out riding more, its been pretty hectic getting things off the ground for feather cycles so I’ve not had much time for anything else. also making a little bit of money soon would go a miss haha.
9. Thanks dude!
Cheers.
